Former PMs open to role in J-K dialogue

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7: After their joint statement on the state of the nation, the four former prime ministers -- V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar,...

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7: After their joint statement on the state of the nation, the four former prime ministers — V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar, I K Gujral and H D Deve Gowda — won’t be averse to playing a role, if required, in initiating a dialogue between elements in Jammu and Kashmir alienated from the rest of the country and the Centre.

In another significant move, the former prime ministers are scheduled to meet around 100 Muslim intellectuals on Saturday evening at the residence of Deve Gowda. The Muslim academics, who are coming from universities all over the country, will discuss with the four leaders the issues they had raised in their state of the nation statement last week.

Welcoming the willingness expressed by Home Minister L K Advani to initiate talks with the Hurriyat leaders, I K Gujral told The Indian Express that the former PMs would be open to “play a part in the process of dialogue with elements in the state”.

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Gujral said: “I have not had a discussion with my colleagues but I have been taking an interest in Kashmir, and if I can be helpful, I’d like to. Chandra Shekhar, V P Singh and Deve Gowda have also been taking an interest and we are all in touch with various people in the state. Whether we should do it collectively, I haven’t discussed with the others. But why not if it is helpful? It is our duty to the nation.”

Gujral feels not only should there be a dialogue initiated by the Government, but “others in public life should encourage and promote a dialogue between various elements in the state and elements in the rest of the country to help end the feeling of alienation in Jammu and Kashmir”.

When he was PM, it was the spirit of holding talks without preconditions that ultimately led to a cease-fire in Nagaland, the former PM said.

Gujral recalled the couplet he had rendered before the Hurriyat Conference when he was Prime Minister: “Gairon se kaha tumne, gairon se suna tumne, kabhi humse kaha hota, kabhi humse suna hota.” (You spoke to strangers and listened to them, alas, only if you had spoken to us and listened to us) The words were even more applicable to the situation today, he said.